what's scary

[willowbirdy218]

What are your birds afraid of?

[The Outlaw]

My birds are frightened by anything remotely snakelike or having handles like broom, mops, etc. Nothing sends them scurring more quickly than someone picking up a hose or entering a room with a broom or even canes or crutches. That has been a problem, for my husband just had knee surgery and is still on crutches.

The newest thing that scares them is a utility cart that I use to deliver their dinner bowls. For some reason, that is a monster, too.

They aren't afraid of kids, dogs, motorcycles, hot rods and stuff like that, but God forbid you pick up a broom. I really don't know why. I have most of them since they were babies and would NEVER think of scaring them with any of the above. I think they are hardwired to fear these things.

THE OUTLAW

[Sherri]

My M2 is pretty good at not being afraid of much. She loves new toys and is curious about most things. The main thing is walking by her cage at night after she is covered. She will hiss and make a funny honk. We started talking softly as we go by now. She doesn't get scared as much that way.
My Lutino Cockatiel is another story. He is afraid of EVERYTHING! He hates strange noises, toys, sudden moves etc....mostly, the UPS truck when it pulls up the drive.

[willowbirdy218]

my lovebird, mango isnt really afraid of anything much except sudden movements.
my grey, willow is afraid of the vacuum. everytime i have to vacuum around his cage, he climbs to the back of the cage and screams. The last time i vacuumed, he started flying around and i was scared he would get hurt so i brought him into another room until i was down.
does anyone else have a bird afraid of the vacuum? Anything i can do to make him less frightened?

[Vankarhi]

My galah (Bo) is afraid of snake like things also. It took me a couple of months to get her used to the rope perches. She almost had a heart attack when I put the first one in her cage. She really freaked out and I had to put her old branch back in. I gradually got her used to it. Then decided to put another smaller one in - same story, she freaked out. She got used to it eventually then I put a new swing in her cage - same thing again. She just does not like change, it has to be gradual. She also hates Skye (eclectus), she probably is not as bad as at first, but she definelty does not like her and will scream incessantly at times, which is something she never used to do. She has had Birdie (cockatiel) in her cage with her for a while and she tolerated him. She even tolerates Peachy the lovebird. It probably is the fact that Skye is bigger than Bo, the other birds are smaller. On the other hand Skye does not seem to be afraid of much. Except one day I went to my friends place and took Skye with me, and their staffy came bounding out and Skye screamed and i thought she was going to freak out also, but she calmed down within mins and just kept her eye on the dog. I have a staffy and border collie, Skye loves to tease the staffy and does not worry about the border collie. I think she realised it was not my staffy and just freaked out for a few mins. I can put new toys and change her cage around and Skye does not bother about it.

[LordVampyre]

got one of those flexable pirches.. my bird is scared to death of it. No matter how its introduced. I think she thinks its a snake. Lets see, she dislikes the news and is fearful of loud movies or even music. Over all that pirch is the biggest thing Ive found.

[Katisoo]

Gracin (TAG 6) Seemed to be afraid of towels at first but since she saw that I wrap my hair in them she either wants to be on the towel on my head or in the folds when I throw it on the bed so I can comb my hair. She actually goes and hides under them now.
She thinks I can't see her red tail sticking out ;)